D2 took down Eno River handily this past weekend in their first playoff match! On top of their 72-0 win, the Deuces got to show off their incredible number of committed players with a second match afterwards! Deuces Squared played a motley side of UGA, Harlequins alum, and some Eno players!

Thank you to everyone who helped out, played, and supported this weekend! Also SHOUT OUT to all of the Harlequins who played their first rugby match this weekend. D2 moves on to the next round of playoffs at the South Women's Championship Weekend, May 5th & 6th!

A Big Welcome to the New WPL Coach Kittery Wagner Ruiz!

Kittery Wagner Ruiz will be joining the club as head coach of the WPL squad for the 2018 season! Prior to joining Atlanta, Kitt was the head coach of the Glendale Merlins as well as the assistant coach to the Women’s Junior All Americans, bringing a wealth of rugby knowledge both as a coach and player. “We are thrilled to have Kitt join the Harlequin family. Based on her accomplishments as a player and a coach, and the fact that she is a pretty cool human being, Kitt will, without a doubt, motivate, challenge, and inspire our players. I am confident that the combination of her coaching skills and our grit will translate to an exciting brand of rugby both to play and to watch,” remarks Club Director, Patty Jervey.

18th Annual Dawn White Memorial Golf Tournament

We are just under three weeks away from our annual golf tournament! This year's tournament will be held May 12th, 2018 at Browns Mill Golf Course. Make sure to follow our event page on Facebook to get updates, and go ahead and register your team here!

What you get:- A day of golf (green fee and golf cart)- Range balls and a gift bag- Light (delicious) lunch and dinner- BOTTOMLESS DRINKS

If you would like to help sponsor the event to offset costs and get your business' name out there, you can find more information here.

The Quin's spent a long day recruiting and volunteering at the Warrior Dash this month! Our next community service event is May 19th with Hapeville Paint the Town. If you would like to join us, please reach out here!

7s Training Starts May 29th

Harlequins' summer 7s will start the last week of May! All players are welcome to come out and join. You can catch the Quins in action in Asheville, Atlanta, Orlando, and Cape Fear! In addition to all the awesome players, we are so excited to announce that Quin and Life Head Coach Ros Chou will be coaching us this summer!

Help Us Fundraise This Spring!

We are always working on ways to sustainably fundraise for the club so we can continue to grow! There are a couple different (easy!) ways that you can support the Quins:

Use Amazon Smilewhenever you're getting your online shopping done. You can set your account to support "Atlanta Harlequins Womens Rugby Football Club" and the club will get money every time you shop!

Order your protein and other workout supplements from Ruck Science! By using the code "ATLANTAHARLEQUINS" when checking out, a portion of your purchase will be donated to the team

Harlequins Announce New WPL Coach Kittery Wagner Ruiz

The Atlanta Harlequins are excited to announce that Kittery Wagner Ruiz will be joining the club as head coach of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) squad for the 2018 season.

Prior to joining Atlanta, Kitt was the head coach of the Glendale Merlins (formerly Raptors) as well as the assistant coach to the Women’s Junior All Americans, bringing a wealth of rugby knowledge both as a coach and player. Her player resume drips with excellence having earned spots as both a 15s Eagle (2007–2014) and a 7s Eagle (2008–2009), including appearances in two World Cups, a WPL National Championship with the Glendale Raptors (2014), as well as commitment to various other high-performance clubs, beginning in 2000.

By profession, Kitt has 13 years of experience as an educator in mathematics and takes pride in helping her students become both career and college ready. Hailing from Ft. Collins, CO, Kitt holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from SUNY Potsdam and a Master’s Degree in Mathematics from Boston University.

“We are thrilled to have Kitt join the Harlequin family. Based on her accomplishments as a player and a coach, and the fact that she is a pretty cool human being, Kitt will, without a doubt, motivate, challenge, and inspire our players. I am confident that the combination of her coaching skills and our grit will translate to an exciting brand of rugby both to play and to watch,” remarks Club Director, Patty Jervey.

The Harlequins welcome Kittery and her family to Atlanta and are eagerly anticipating an exciting WPL season.

# # # #

The (formerly known as) Southeast Harlequins Women’s Rugby Football Club came into being in 1984 as a select side for several teams scattered about the southeastern part of the country. At the end of the spring 1999 season, the team decided to honor this change in status with a change of name that includes ours host city, renaming the club to: the Atlanta Harlequins.

Dedicated to excellence, the Harlequins continuously strive to give national credibility to rugby in the South as well as in Atlanta. Committed to rugby excellence, it is our desire to bring rugby to the forefront as a viable sport for women. The Atlanta Harlequins currently field a WPL (Women’s Premier League) side, a Division II side, a girl's U19 side, and were the 2012 USA Rugby Women's Division I National Champions.

Thank you to all who came out and joined us for our Spring Alumni Day! Even though our original opponents backed out at the last minute, the Deuces have grown so much they were able to put on a intrasquad scrimmage. The growth of the Harlequins D2 program in just one short year has been incredible. The team is so grateful for getting in such a good game, and to everyone that came out and celebrated last Saturday at the match!

18th Annual Dawn White Memorial Golf Tournament

The Harlequins' 18th Annual Dawn White Memorial Golf Tournament will be held May 12th, 2018 at Browns Mill Golf Course! You can follow our event page on Facebook to get updates, and go ahead and register your team here!

The annual golf tournament is a FANTASTICALLY FUN way to support women's rugby in Atlanta (see end to find out more about our non-profit rugby club). No matter your experience level, this tournament will be a perfect time to work on your golf game or just have some fun.

What you get:
- A day of golf (green fee and golf cart)
- Range balls and a gift bag
- Light (delicious) lunch and dinner
- BOTTOMLESS DRINKS

What you pay:
$125/ person ($500 for team of 4).

If you would like to help sponsor the event to offset costs and get your business' name out there, you can find more information here.

WPL Nationals in Atlanta

WPL Nationals is in Atlanta this year! Teams will be playing from October 24-26. Look out for a new WPL schedule in the next few weeks!

Harlequins Gear Now Available Online!

You can now buy Harlequins gear from our new online store! While our online offerings are starting off small, we are always looking for suggestions of what Quins, family, friends, and alumni would like to see next! If you have an idea you don't see in the store, please send us a message here.

Help us fundraise this Spring!

We are always working on ways to sustainably fundraise for the club so we can continue to grow! There are a couple different (easy!) ways that you can support the Quins:

Use Amazon Smile whenever you're getting your online shopping done. You can set your account to support "Atlanta Harlequins Womens Rugby Football Club" and the club will get money every time you shop!

Order your protein and other workout supplements from Ruck Science! By using the code "ATLANTAHARLEQUINS" when checking out, a portion of your purchase will be donated to the team

Save the Date!

The Harlequins Fall Alumni Weekend will be September 21-23, 2018!

Harlequin Highlight

Name: Bex MartinHometown: Boulder, Colorado Occupation: Director of Community Programs for Atlanta Youth Rugby, Community Support Individual Years playing rugby: 14College rugby team: Appalachian State University
Favorite rugby memory: My favorite rugby memory is watching D2 player T tackle a giant player from Augusta last Fall. What does being a Harlequin mean to you? It means putting in work on and off the field to be part of the best rugby in the South.

** We would love to highlight some of our awesome alumni! Send us a blurb of what you've been up to here!

The Harlequins spent a balmy day in January at North Druid Hills Preschool with Trees Atlanta! This group works to protect Atlanta's forests and create new green space. Quins spent the morning putting their muscles to good use digging holes and planting new trees to support the cause!

Spring Alumni Match

D2 will take on Charleston in our only home game of the spring season at Old White' s field (1035 Fairburn Rd SW, Atlanta, GA). Tentative kickoff is at 3:00pm, but please come early to watch the other youth and men's games during the day. Rumor has it that there will also be head shaving in honor of St. Baldrick's. Let us know If you want to participate! There will be an alumni reception tent for all former Quins with merchandise and activities. Please visit our website in the next weeks for more exact details about the day's agenda as times are subject to change!

Help us fundraise this Spring!

We are always working on ways to sustainably fundraise for the club so we can continue to grow! There are a couple different (easy!) ways that you can support the Quins:

Use Amazon Smile whenever you're getting your online shopping done. You can set your account to support "Atlanta Harlequins Womens Rugby Football Club" and the club will get money every time you shop!

Order your protein and other workout supplements from Ruck Science! By using the code "ATLANTAHARLEQUINS" when checking out, a portion of your purchase will be donated to the team

Order some Harlequins gear. We are in the process of building our brand new online store! Any items that you want but we don't have? Let us know here what you would like to see in our new store!

Join Us for the18th Annual Dawn White Memorial Golf Tournament

The Harlequins' 18th Annual Dawn White Memorial Golf Tournament will be held May 12th, 2018 at Browns Mill Golf Course! You can follow our event page on Facebook to get updates, and go ahead and register your team here!

If you would like to help sponsor the event to offset costs and get your business' name out there, you can find more information here.

WPL Season Schedule Change

The WPL season is shifting forward to better align with the schedule of the USA Rugby Women's National Team. Matches will begin in the middle of August, and this year's nationals will be held in Atlanta from 10/26 - 10/28!

Harlequin Highlight

Name: Tiana "T" JohnsonHometown: North Charleston, South CarolinaOccupation: Controls & Automation EngineerYears playing rugby: 4College rugby team: Clemson University
Favorite rugby memory: My favorite rugby memory is the first time I went to a rugby tournament and got to play an impromptu game with players from all different teams. What does being a Harlequin mean to you? It means more people decided to put up with me... but it also means I get to be a part of a bigger rugby family!

** We would love to highlight some of our awesome alumni! Send us a blurb of what you've been up to here!

Happy New Year!

In an effort to connect with our larger Harlequin family, friends, and alumni this year, the Quins will be sending out a monthly newsletter. We are so excited to share our accomplishments and journey as a club throughout the year!We are asking for your help as we collect contact information for all of our alumni, fans, and current players. Please take two minutes to fill out our information sheet so we can avoid double emails, mail bouncing back, and YOU missing out on exciting Harlequin news!https://goo.gl/forms/eH4JPd05pcPEgwYu2

Harlequins Split Games at WPL Nationals

The Harlequins traveled to Tuscon, Arizona this November to complete in the 9th annual WPL National Championships. Atlanta lost a hard fought first match to Chicago North Shore, 24-5, and missed out on a spot in the 5th place playoff. The Harlequins ended the weekend on a high note with a great 34-10 win against the D.C. Furies.

The team laughed, they cried, and in true #DWFA fashion they crushed the social! The Quins are excited to have this platform for growth in the offseason. Thank you to alumni, family, and friends that supported the Fall WPL season and trip to nationals!

D2 Practice Starts in February

After a great Fall season that ended with a 45-10 win over the Augusta Furies, the D2 squad is kicking off practices in the beginning of February! If you would like to join them, please contact: atlantaharlequins@gmail.com

Harlequin Highlight

Name: Mo CompitoHometown: Sterling, VirginiaOccupation: Senior Financial Analyst at American Cancer SocietyYears playing rugby: 10College rugby team: Virginia TechFavorite rugby memory:The season that the Quins won D1 nationals, and being part of the rugby community that took over Chicago to watch the All Blacks vs. USA! What does being a Harlequin mean to you?It means I have the opportunity to be part of something challenging but wonderful and full of growth.

The Atlanta Harlequins are excited to announce the creation of a Harlequins U-19 team

With many inaugural players coming from the former Kennesaw Mountain High School Girls Rugby Club, the new Atlanta Harlequins U-19 team will be the third side fielded under the AHWRFC banner after the Women’s Premier League (WPL) squad and the Division II “Deuces” squad. The U-19 team will be comprised of players from around the Atlanta metro area, regardless of high school affiliation.

When I look around the world, I sometimes wonder – what makes one person stand out more than another? What makes one person a celebrity – a legend even? What makes this or that person a name to be remembered?

Sometimes it’s one or two things they’ve done that makes them a remembered person and makes them famous (or infamous, in some cases). Sometimes its endorsement deals. And then sometimes it's the thing that they do day in and day out. For years. For a lifetime even. Does the recognition always come? For some, it doesn’t. But this time – finally – the recognition has come for one particular name that needs to be remembered.

This coming Monday, World Cup Champion, former USA Eagle, and Club-Level National Champion Patty “Jeeves” Jervey will be inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame – a member of the first class of women to hold the prestigious spot.

Hailing from Marietta, Georgia, Patty’s 31-year rugby career (that’s still not over, I might add) started at the University of South Carolina. She later solidified her rugby career with a transfer to Florida State University – the same university that produced other female rugby greats such as Candi Orsini and Kathy Flores – where her position as a center (and sometimes wing) really took off.

While many rugby players consider retiring somewhere in their 30s or 40s, on her 50th birthday, Patty played in a friendly match against NOVA (Northern Virginia). And just this past weekend, played with the Harlequins in the 2014 Women’s Premier League National Playoffs, where this season she’s had a go at playing both 8-man and flanker.

Over the years, Patty’s relentless and lifelong dedication to the sport of rugby has earned her: A coveted spot as a USA Eagle, with her first appearance in 1989 A World Cup title (the USA defeated England 19-6 in the first Women’s Rugby World Cup in 1991) Four additional World Cup appearances as a USA Eagle (1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006) 40 caps (only recently surpassed by USA prop Jamie Burke) A record for the most international points scored with 178 total points A Division I National Championship (2012 with her club team Atlanta Harlequins) Coaching positions with USA Rugby South Women’s All Stars and the Harlequins

Patty’s legacy is one that is well known in the women’s rugby community, and now, she’s been given her place amongst rugby greats like All Black Jonah Lomu and Springbok Francoise Pienaar – a well-deserved spot for a player that has reached the highest levels of rugby and has had a hand in cultivating the sport both internationally and domestically.

As her teammate and on behalf of the Atlanta Harlequins, I’d like to give the biggest congratulations and three cheers to Patty Jervey on this and all of her accomplishments.

The Harlequins went 3 & 0 at Surfin 7s in West Palm Beach over the weekend, winning the Competitive bracket and clenching the South seed for 7s Club Nationals!
Quins over Orlando, 15-7
Quins over Vice City, 24-5
Quins over Orlando, 22-0